rowena-sierant.com

I live on Gumbaynggirr land in the creative town of Bellingen where I manage three libraries. I love to collect vintage fashion and hats.

​

I came from a home of storytellers and spent many childhood hours on my own writing and reading. I think I may have been the first child to start a street library back in the 1970s! My book collection was carefully arranged along the front frence of our Sydney home. I made library cards and created pockets at the back of my books to lend to all the kids on the street.

 

When I was in my twenties, I spent months recording my father's story - a fourteen old Ukranian boy who fled his country during WWII. I lived in Ireland for five years delving into my mother's heritage. Their stories have inspired me to write.

 

My career in teaching saw the publication of many curriculum materials, including The School Magazine support documents. Other published works appear in the Greens Magazine and Regret anthology (Ginninderra Press).

 

I am excited to have just been selelected by the Queensland Writers Centre Publishable Program ( 2024). I am currently working with the incredible Melissa Ashely as my mentor on my novel, Dress by Dress. I plan to have it ready for submission early 2025. 

​

In 2023 I was selected to join the Faber Academy and worked on my novel, Dress by Dress. I was highly commended by the Australian Society of Authors for this novel.. 

​

I love to write about the lived experiences of ordinary people, particularly women. My passion for reseach and uncovering the unseen, the hidden social histories of Australia comes through in my novels. I have another novel in the process and can't wait to get back to it!